The SMU men's soccer team is coming off an ACC championship — but that's not what filled the field on Saturday.
Championships may raise expectations, but they're not what brings SMU Men's Soccer alumni back. The annual Jordan Mann Alumni Game drew one of its largest turnouts in 20 years, driven less by recent success and more by the lasting bonds former players have with the program.
The event is held in memory of former Mustang Jordan Mann, whose legacy continues to shape the program.
"They show up no matter what, because of the experience they had with the program and how much they care," SMU Head Coach Kevin Hudson said. "We could have a wonderful year or a bad year, and these guys still love the program and their time here. It's a testament to the culture and camaraderie of the team."
The event gives alumni a chance to reconnect — not just with each other, but with the current team. With two fields set up, former players rotate between games against fellow alumni and the current roster, creating a rare overlap between the program's generations.
For the Mustangs still in uniform, it's more than a scrimmage. It's a firsthand look at the standard they're expected to carry.
"We can talk about the history, but it is important for them to truly see what it means," Hudson said. "I told the boys before they came out here, 'Look, it's not about you today, but you have to be respectful and still play to the best of your ability so that these alums can see what the current team is. Be safe and enjoy yourself, but play with a purpose and try to be the best player you can.'"
Some of the players on the field pursued careers outside of soccer after their time at SMU. Others were among the best to ever play for the Mustangs before going on to professional careers.
They all worked toward a common goal during their time on the field, the same goal the current players still carry today.
"We have some guys who are super successful in the business world here," Hudson said. "And we have others like Mauro Cichero, who just retired and was one of the best players to ever play here. And my teammate, Luchi Gonzalez, is here as well. His number's retired. It's pretty neat to show the current guys the history of the program, and that this is something bigger than them. It's important for their growth and maturation."
A handful of more recent graduates were unable to join in because they are beginning their professional careers. Charles-Emile Brunet was drafted by Nashville SC, while Slade Starnes signed a homegrown contract with FC Dallas after last season.
Cesar Ruvalcaba (Columbus Crew) and Nikola Djordjevic (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) are in their second professional seasons, and Bailey Sparks has made an early impact with FC Tulsa, scoring twice in his first four matches after joining from Inter Miami this offseason.
Even from a distance, they remain connected.
"It's an honor for those guys to continue to do what they love, and we're happy we played a part in their development," Hudson said. "I saw Slade Starnes out at FC Dallas and Charles on FaceTime in the locker room when some guys were playing FIFA. We saw Cesar Ruvalcaba, and Bailey Sparks scored the other day. It's pretty neat when you look at the last handful of years."
As alumni returned and professionals followed from afar, the day also marked a turning point for the current roster.
Saturday's event served as the unofficial close of SMU's spring season, which included six matches. The Mustangs will wrap up team activities this week before shifting their focus to the summer and, eventually, a return to defending their ACC title.
"This is purely enjoyment and networking and relationship building," Hudson said. "Wednesday is the final team meeting, then individual meetings start, and then they're done. It's off to summer ball, summer school, vacations and everything else. This is the final moment of the spring for the whole team together."
While it isn't the most intense training of the spring, it's a special day for everyone involved.
For Hudson, it's about more than just soccer.
"It's one of my favorite days, seeing guys that I coached, guys that I played with, and some of the older alums who still feel such a strong affinity for this place," Hudson said. "It's a ton of fun, and there's a lot of smiles and laughs. They're still very competitive, even if sometimes the bodies don't always work the way the mind does."
That connection is at the heart of the event. Mann, who passed away from a congenital heart abnormality in May of 2007, remains a defining presence in the program.
Hudson's time as a player and coach at SMU didn't overlap with Mann's, but his presence is still felt throughout the program.
"We do this in honor of Jordan and in memory of him, and some of these guys played with him and were some of his best friends," Hudson said. "Everybody says he's basically what you want an SMU soccer player to be; an excellent player but a better person, humble and hardworking and a great human. For as long as I'm here, it will continue with the same purpose."
